She Is Seriously Ill - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

I Want to See You (Flashback Chapter)

The director was eager to start filming, so the new project progressed rapidly. After the script was finalized, the crew held their first table read in mid-January.

After work ended that evening, Jiang Chen had dinner with the director, producer, and screenwriter to further discuss the project’s future plans.

Such occasions inevitably involved drinking, but everyone was focused on the project and didn’t pressure others to drink excessively. Jiang Chen only raised her glass twice symbolically before setting it down.

When she returned to her car after the meal, Jiang Chen noticed several missed calls on her phone, all from the same number with a Shanghai area code.

Very few people knew her private number. After a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Chen called back.

The call was answered after just one ring. The person on the other end sounded anxious and immediately asked, Hello, are you Chen Guo’s parent?

Jiang Chen paused, …May I ask who’s speaking?

I’m Chen Guo’s homeroom teacher. Could you please come to City People’s Hospital as soon as possible? Chen Guo fainted in class today.

Jiang Chen’s heart tightened sharply, and she unconsciously sat up straighter. What happened to her?

She’s running a fever – it reached 40 degrees Celsius. She just started receiving IV fluids at the hospital, and we’re not sure how she’ll be later. Please come quickly.

Late at night, the hospital emergency room remained crowded.

Chen Guo’s fever was severe enough that the nurse had arranged a bed for her. When Jiang Chen entered, she was lying on the hospital bed receiving IV fluids, eyes closed, brows tightly furrowed, appearing extremely uncomfortable.

With her upcoming filming schedule, Jiang Chen had been wearing a mask and hat since getting out of the car to avoid being photographed and potentially sparking ambiguous rumors. Only after Tang Jing went out to see the teacher off and the room was empty did she remove her mask, staring somewhat blankly at the person on the hospital bed.

The teacher said Chen Guo’s fever had reached 40 degrees, that she’d been lying on her desk unconscious, her body limp, and it was her deskmate who noticed something was wrong and reported to the homeroom teacher.

She’s not a child anymore – why wouldn’t she say anything when she was this sick, choosing to endure it silently instead?

Jiang Chen lowered her gaze, standing by the bed for a while until Tang Jing returned from seeing off the teacher. Tang Jing checked on Chen Guo, who was still sleeping restlessly, then the two exchanged glances and moved to the corridor outside to talk.

With work scheduled for the next day, Tang Jing suggested Jiang Chen go back to rest while she stayed to care for Chen Guo.

Jiang Chen remained silent for a few seconds before shaking her head. Never mind, I’ll stay and watch over her. You can come pick me up first thing tomorrow morning.

Seeing Jiang Chen’s firm attitude, Tang Jing didn’t press further and nodded. Alright, but remember to rest when you can tonight, or you won’t be able to handle tomorrow’s work.

Mm, drive safely on your way back.

After watching Tang Jing leave, Jiang Chen returned to the hospital room.

Chen Guo had woken up at some point. Her fever hadn’t broken, leaving her complexion pale and her entire demeanor listless. When her dark eyes fixed unblinkingly on Jiang Chen, she looked inexplicably pitiful.

Jiang Chen recalled the WeChat messages Chen Guo had sent her recently – actually just ordinary greetings, but she hadn’t replied to any of them.

Now, seeing the look in Chen Guo’s eyes, Jiang Chen felt an indescribable sense of guilt for some reason.

She glanced away indifferently and walked to the bedside as if nothing had happened, asking softly, Feeling better?

Chen Guo looked at her, her voice soft and hoarse as she spoke, …My head hurts.

Jiang Chen’s heart clenched involuntarily. She reached out and touched Chen Guo’s forehead with her fingers—it was still burning hot enough to boil an egg. No wonder it hurt.

Jiang Chen looked up at the IV bag, her tone softening considerably. You should feel better after this bag is finished.

After speaking, she glanced at Chen Guo. Did you not dress properly during the recent cold spell?

Mm…

Just ‘mm’? Jiang Chen frowned slightly, a bit angry. Why didn’t you dress properly? You’re not a three-year-old child—don’t you know to add layers when it gets cold?

Chen Guo’s eyelids fluttered as she quietly gazed at Jiang Chen. Because I wanted to see you.

In truth, she hadn’t just neglected to dress properly—she had even deliberately taken cold showers at night.

Because only this way might Jiang Chen come to see her.

Although the process was somewhat risky, as long as Jiang Chen appeared, everything was worth it.

Jiang Chen froze for a moment, then turned her head and stared at Chen Guo in disbelief. You… caught a cold on purpose?

Chen Guo didn’t answer, instead asking, You do care about me a little in your heart, don’t you?

Jiang Chen’s lips parted, but no sound came out. She was still reeling from the shock that Chen Guo had deliberately made herself sick just to see her.

She did care about Chen Guo, but it was only out of an elder’s concern and care for a younger person.

That night, she had already made things so clear—why couldn’t Chen Guo understand? Why resort to such extremes, even harming herself, just to force Jiang Chen to come see her?

The more Jiang Chen thought about it, the colder she felt inside. Her eyes drifted uncertainly toward Chen Guo, filled with a deep sense of helplessness. Can’t you just act normal…